ROSG begins filming this week on a feature docu-drama recounting the brutal slaying in 1882 of a family in Mám Trasna and the wrongful hanging and conviction of those accused. Based on the critically acclaimed book Éagóir written by Seán Ó Cuirreáin and published by Cois Life, Murdair Mhám Trasna tells the story of barbaric murders committed in the dead of night in the midst of a rural community in Joyce Country, on the border between counties Galway and Mayo in 1882 and the subsequent trial in Dublin (most unusual for the time) which lead to the unjust hanging and life imprisonment of innocent people based on the testimonies of false witnesses, traitors and the dishonesty of the authorities and the gentry.

Producer Ciarán Ó Cofaigh says,

“We are thrilled to produce this film which we have been developing for a couple of years with Seán Ó Cuirreáin, the author of Éagóir. There are three parts to this tragic story. We have a most unusual and barbaric murder in the dead of night; a trial undertaken in a Dublin court through the English language and with an English-speaking jury - though the defendants were native Irish speakers with little or no English; and finally, the political fallout following the wrongful hanging of innocent men, and the wrongful conviction of others.”

Filming will commence over the following weeks with award winning cast members including Dara Devaney, Pól Ó Gríofa, David Heap, Aidan O’Hare, Peadar Ó Treasaigh and many others. Murdair Mhám Trasna will be filmed in Dublin, Galway, Conamara and Swinford, Co. Mayo.

Murdair Mhám Trasna is directed by Colm Bairéad, produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh with DOP Colm Hogan and Designer Conor Dennison. The film is produced by ROSG with funding from TG4, The BAI and support through Section 481.